San Jose Costa Rica Travel Information

The Basics

Time

Electricity

Language

Spanish is the official language, but English is widely spoken.

Travel Health

There are no vaccination requirements for Costa Rica. As a
precaution, vaccinations for hepatitis A, hepatitis B and typhoid
are recommended for travel to Costa Rica. There is a risk of
malaria in some areas of Costa Rica year-round and advice should be
taken on which areas are currently risky and what precautions and
medication you should take to protect against the disease. Water in
cities is generally safe but it is advisable to buy bottled water,
especially outside the main towns where there is a risk of
contamination. Dengue fever is one of a number of diseases carried
by insects that also occur in this region, especially during the
rainy season; protection against insect bites is the best
prevention. Medical services are reliable in cities and the
standard of hygiene and treatment is very high.

Tipping

Hotels add a 10 percent service charge plus a 3 percent tourist
tax to their bills by law. In tourist and upmarket restaurants a
tip of 10 percent is usual, however some establishments already
include a 17 percent sales and service tax in the bill. Taxi
drivers are not normally tipped, but tour guides are. In general if
service has been particularly good staff appreciate a 5 to 10
percent tip.

Safety Information

There is no history of terrorism in Costa Rica, however there
are incidents of violent crime, occasionally targeting tourists.
There has been an increase in attacks on tourists leaving the
airport in hired cars in San Jose. Belongings should be watched
carefully at all times and in all places, particularly in bus
stations and on public transport. Theft of, and from, cars is
common. Do not wear jewellery or carry large amounts of cash and
avoid moneychangers on the street. Strikes, protests and blockades
have recently taken place without warning and further
demonstrations could disrupt travel on main roads, particularly
those connecting San Jose with the coast.

Local Customs

Costa Ricans are conservative when it comes to family values,
and roles between male and female are expected to be traditional.
'Machismo' is a key characteristic of Costa Rica culture, although
women are quickly becoming more empowered in Tico society. The
population is largely middle-class, Catholic and ethnically
homegenous.

Business

Costa Rica has a formal business environment, where men and
women wear conservative suits, appointments are made and meetings
begin on time. Business projects can be slow, however, as Costa
Ricans are conservative in their approach to new ideas and keen to
avoid risk. Spanish is the main language, but most business people
speak English; however, it is polite to have business cards as well
as other promotional material printed in both English and Spanish.
A lot of women have high profile jobs, although the business world,
like the society in general, is still male dominated. Visiting
businesswomen will be treated with respect once their ability and
authority is clearly established. Hours of business are generally
8am to 4pm Monday to Friday with a two-hour lunch break from
12pm.

Communications

The international access code for Costa Rica is +506. The
outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g.
0044 for the United Kingdom). City codes are not required. Costa
Rica has one of the most advanced telecommunications systems in
Latin America. The cheapest way to phone internationally is a
direct call using a phone card. Mobile phone operators use GSM 1800
networks. Internet cafes are available in the main towns.

Duty Free

Travellers to Costa Rica over 18 years do not have to pay duty
on 3 litres of alcohol; 500g of tobacco or 400 cigarettes or 50
cigars. Perfume for personal use is allowed provided it is a
reasonable quantity.

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